Regularly monitoring of visitors in highmountain environment was realised in Tatra National Park (Slovakia) during 11. and 12. August 2006. From monitoring results, that on Friday 11.8.2006 visited Tatry 10.278 visitors, on Saturday 12.8.2006 it was 14.918 visitors. Visitors was influenced by weather, which possible classify first day as very unfair and spoil unfair 4 (3), second day as fair and in the afternoon spoil unfair 2 (3). Even though indeed arrived in highmountain environment more people than after different age in similar weather conditions. Traditional between the most visited localities belong Skalnate pleso, Hrebienok and Popradske pleso. That confirm reality, that areas with easy availability (road, cableway) or with attraction (high-mountain hut) attract people the most. The most people input to highmountain environment during morning in time from 8.00 to 12.00, return backwards is mainly between 14.00 and 18.00. From nationalities markedly predominated visitors from Poland and Czech republic, the third were Slovak.
Tatra National Park Administration in co-operation with other subjects realize visitor's monitoring in highmountain environment on territory of national park in time from 5.00 to 19.00 on above 50 positions in 100 directions. 200 counters take part in it and from factors, which is long-time observing, is also weather conditions and its influence on visitors. On some counting positions is detecting also structure of nationalities, object of monitoring is also time and date dynamics (during day also throughout several years) and space aspects (localities with peak load).
Systematic monitoring of visitors in Tatra National Park was opened thanks boom of visitors in year 1972 in highmountain environment of national park minimum one day during summit of summer season. Already in 90. years of past century was statement, that during 40-yearly existence of national park increase yearly number of visitors nearly 100 times. Following this data was estimated also general yearly visiting of Tatra mountains, in year 1988 it was more than 5 mil. people. Monitoring serves for the need of nature conservation, science, research e.g. by providing the regulation of tourist activities, by planning maintenance of tourist trails and their facilities, intensifying of ranger services, as well as for tourism experts. Results of monitoring are part of management plan with limits based on indicators of environment quality. In history, thanks data from monitoring, free move of visitors in national park was limited, visitor's charter got regulations about move only on marked tourist trails, some areas were closed because of non-respectable visiting closed, as well as maximum quota of visitors who can ride mountain transport facilities was determined.
Ing. Juraj Svajda, Tatra National Park & Biosphere Reserve Administration
